Careers in the oilsands

by Candice G. Ball

Janelle Wassink

Age: 28

Title: Project/Mechanical Engineer, P.Eng

Company: Projex

Education: Bachelor of Science with a major in Mechanical Engineering, Dordt College, Iowa
Graduated May 2004

Years with PROJEX: Six

What does your role entail?

PROJEX delivers a full suite of engineering services related to the design, engineering, procurement, and construction management of oilsands and heavy oil production and processing facilities. So as a project engineer, one of my primary responsibilities on a project is to coordinate with all the different engineering disciplines, and ensure that they're communicating with one another so that we can quickly resolve any issues that might arise.

I'm also responsible for making sure that deliverables are completed on time.

I work directly with the client's project engineer and project manager on a day-to-day basis to make sure that all their needs are met and that the project is delivered on schedule.

What's the most challenging part of your job?

Working with the different personalities on each project. To deliver a successful project I need to figure out how each person works as an individual and then how we can all work together as a team. Project timelines are tight and it can be difficult to get everyone working together quickly and keep communications lines open.

As a young project engineer, it can be challenging to gain the respect of some of the more senior engineers. During the course of a project, I'm required to keep schedule and ensure quality-this can mean having discussions with engineers who have a great deal more experience than I do. I try not to come off like I'm questioning their expertise but rather gaining an understanding so that I can coordinate properly with other disciplines.

What do you enjoy most?

By nature, I'm a problem solver. That's a big part of why I became an engineer. I like to solve problems, help people, answer tough questions and assist in moving a project forward. I also like the innovation and technology related to oilsands recovery. At the end of the day, I get the most satisfaction out of delivering a successful project to our clients and being asked to lead the team on the next project.

What advice would you offer to someone starting out in a similar position?

Don't be afraid of a job opportunity with smaller company. I've been fortunate to work on a wide variety of projects and my responsibilities have increased more than they might have if I worked at a larger company.

Be flexible, open and honest in your dealings with people. A successful project can involve a lot of different personalities, and at times this can be challenging but is very rewarding when everyone works together as a team.